He ̄rodikos of Knidos (440 – 400 BCE)
Greek physician of uncertain date, earlier than H but slightly later than
E K with whom he is associated regarding special therapies: the use of
woman’s milk in curing phthisis (G Prob. Prav. Alim. Suc. 6.775 K.), of stomach purging,
vomiting, steam baths etc. (C A, Chron. 3.139 [CML 6.1.2, p. 762]).
He ̄rodikos (L 4.40–5.34) agrees with Eurupho ̄n that diseases arise
from digestive residues, but his view is more elaborated: poor digestion occurs when move-
ment and diet are imbalanced, fitting with the suggestion that He ̄rodikos invented the
concept of diet (Sch. Hom. Iliad 11.515c). When food is not processed, residues are gener-
ated; these in turn generate harmful acidic or bitter liquids. Different diseases arise if one or
the other liquid predominates. Because of the mention of physical exercise, our He ̄rodikos
has been confused in many sources with He ̄rodikos of Selumbria.
RE 8.1 (1912) 979, H. Gossen; Grensemann (1975) 12–14; A. Thivel, Cnide et Cos? (1981) 363–64; BNP
6 (2005) 264, A. Touwaide; Daniela Manetti, “Medici contemporanei a Ippocrate: problemi di
identificazione dei medici di nome Erodico,” in Ph. van der Eijk, ed., Hippocrates in context = SAM 31
(2005) 295–313.
Daniela Manetti
He ̄rodikos of Selumbria (ca 500 – ca 425 BCE)
P’ contemporary, originally from Megara, settled in Selumbria, trained athletes
for many years, best known through references in P and H, and possibly
the latter’s pupil, at least according to S, V. Hipp. 2 (CMG 4, pp. 175–178). Modern
scholars, such as Smith, tend to discount such a relationship between Hippokrate ̄s and
He ̄rodikos. The H C, E (6.3.18) complains “He ̄rodikos used to
kill fever-patients with running, much wrestling and with vapor baths: bad policy” (but
He ̄rodikos’ doctrines may have influenced the work). Plato criticizes him for mixing gym-
nastic training and medicine (Resp. 408d), attributes to him a treatment of observation and
waiting (Resp. 406a-d), and conveys his prescription of brisk walks (Phdr. 227d3–4). The
L 9.20–36 ascribes to him an elaborate theory concerning diet,
especially in regards to athletes. He ̄rodikos, interested in dietetics, was considered one of its
inventors: P, Homeric Enquiries (Iliad 11.515) says that He ̄rodikos began dietetic
medicine, later perfected by Hippokrate ̄s, P and K (sc. of K
(I)). Contrarily, Eustathios remarks that dietetics was begun by Hippokrate ̄s and completed
by He ̄rodikos, Praxagoras and Khrusippos (Commentaries on Homer’s Iliad 11.514). Modern
scholars have wrongly attributed to him the authorship of the H C,
R.
RE 8.1 (1912) 978–979 (#2), H. Gossen; K. Deichgräber, Die epidemien und das Corpus Hippocraticum, in
Abhandlungen der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (1933) 162–163; R. Joly, Hippocrate, Du régime
(CUF 1967); E.D. Phillips, Aspects of Greek Medicine (1973) 190; Grensemann (1975); W.D. Smith,
“Notes on Ancient Medical Historiography,” BHM 63 (1989) 73–109 at 87; Pinault (1992) 7, 18–23,
31; BNP 6 (2005) 265, A. Touwaide.
Robert Littman
H ⇒ H
HE ̄RODIKOS OF SELUMBRIA